Splash!

Snugglers

They love to snuggle things.  Can you tell??

New grass!!!!

Looking toward our house from the back yard.   There is now grass, where the water trough no longer exists - breeding ground for snakes!!!  

From this angle, the grass is in straight in the back corner...

All right...here we come....so where is this new grass you've been talking about???

They were so funny....they just kept walking along the walkway, since they've never been able to walk in the other area since it was filled with plants.  They didnt even realize they could!  

Like my pink pacie?  I stole it from my sister...

This has been a long time coming....our grassy knoll in our new and improved backyard!

When we bought our house a year ago this month, one of the things we loved about it was the landscaping!  It was professionally landscaped by the former owners, and we have enjoyed all the touches they brought to our yard and house.  However, the entire backyard was lush plants and foliage, but no grass.  We envisioned a large grassy area about this time last year, so we made it our goal to finish it by the time we had toddlers on our hands!  THe other pictures from our blog of the babies in the grass are in the frontyard.  The next step is to get a play gym and a sandbox!!  (next project)

So here are some before and after pictures of our backyard.  I can envision picnics, bbq's, playing with bubbles!!

 Thank you Josh, Josh's Dad and my Dad for working SO very hard in the hot sun many days to get it finished!!!

This is after clearing the area, and BEFORE the grass was laid....

And AFTER!!!!.....

I really hate that these are taken with my phone - it makes the color so dull, but you can at least see the grass.   The pictures at the top are taken with my camera.

All that's left to do now is get some chairs for Josh and I and then get out and enjoy!!

Mrs. Elaine!

I'd like you to meet our neighbor, Mrs. Elaine! 

Mrs. Elaine is like heaven sent to us. When we moved in the babies were 2 months old.  She lives right next door and LOVES, I mean LOVES Luke and ISabel.  If you could dream up an ideal neighbor, this woman is IT!  She's a retired school teacher(if that doesnt tell you enough....), works at the bake shop(so always brings us sweets), LOVES babies (will come over at the sound of a crying baby), there is not a single speck of a crumb in her house!!  And she is a sweet, happy lady.  She and her husband have a 13 year old son, who calls us Mrs. Kacie and Mr. Josh!  

I am thankful for her.  Plus - she just brought me 2 dark chocolate cupcakes, and two vanilla cupcakes!!!  

She "popped" over today to get some "baby love" as she calls it!!  The babies do love her.

She is another someone special in our lives!!

Sweetness

I attribute a great portion of being a happy Mom to my better half, Josh.  I feel God knew just how much a Mother's job would require a helpmate, and I am so grateful he blessed my life with Josh, who made me a wife, and a Mother.  He is THE BEST Dad to our Luke and Isabel.

He knows I love my sweets....so here is his Strawberry Shortcake dessert he made and served with sweetness and love on Mother's Day for us.  It tasted EVEN better than it looked!!!  

Take a peek..

He brought me to the banqueting table, and his banner over me was love.

Song of Solomon 2:4

Here we are after church, where we are awaiting our spaghetti and meatballs that Nina and Pops brought over!!  Another delicious dish.  It was a great weekend!!  I hope all you fabulous Mommy's out there I am privileged to know enjoyed a wonderful day with your families.  

Happy Mother's Day!

Children are an inheritance from the Lord. They are a reward from him. 
Psalm 127:3  

European travelers

Last week Shelly, Kara and Shelly's boyfriend Jeremy's travels took them to Slovakia to meet some of our relatives.  My grandfather (Dad's father) originally came to America from Europe by way of Ellis Island.  He traveled with his Mother by boat when he was only 3 years old, so we have always had great interest in our relatives there, and they us, since it only spans 1 generation that our family is removed from this part of the world.   Shelly and Kara had the privilege of going to meet these wonderful relatives, and said they were absolutely wonderful hosts.  They showed them all around Slovakia and took them to where my grandfather was born, and have given them a great experience.  They returned to England a few days ago.  Here is a picture of Shelly and Kara with our relative, Peter Bevilaqua, visiting the town our grandfather was born in.   

A once in a lifetime opportunity - and they took it!